Si: numerous small skirmishes later, including getting suckered by another Trapper “The Absolutely Knackered Heroes” come up against a no win situation – enemies to the front, left, right, behind, out of spells, low on hit points, nearly run out of arrows. It's time to open up a dialogue “The Band of Bluffers” parley with the fortresses inhabitants on the basis that we haven't come down specifically for you but are looking to rescue some children – therefore we won't sack your fortress (ha!) if you give us what we want.
Entwhistles memory again fades for a session.
DSB: The initial stages of the complex went well. In fact the party has probably won the award for fastest combat ever in the main entrance room. Between kicking the door down, firing missile weapons and off'ing 4 hobgoblins there must have been about 3 seconds (half a round). They didn't know what hit them! They didn't even get time to utter a word, let alone raise the alarm.
The statue in the room proved a little more perplexing. A statue of Zenith Splintershield dominated the room. However it was draped in animated chains which had obviously been placed there recently. The party were unable to remove them, and decided to skirt round them.
A few rooms later and you were in possession of Kazmogen's treasure and had finished off a number of additional hobgoblins. Then came the fateful encounter with the Automaton's and the illusionary walls. The party made a desperate fighting withdrawl back on to the path on the ledge. However the noise of the combat had not gone unnoticed and had drawn the attention of the complexes other inhabitants.
There ensued a standoff. Kazmogen realised that the party had taken down about half-third of his troops, he knew you were wounded and had probably spent a fair few of your spells. He probably had enough of an army left to finish you off. However it may have cost him too much of his remaining army to succeed. In stead he decided to parley.
When it became clear that you were here for the children you were invited to bid for them in his slave market - on the proviso that you returned his possessions. Judging the situation you were in you decided this was a sensible move and Rogan Josh went to join in the bidding in the slave market.
Steve can fill in the details of what transpired next.
